The owner builder amendment is a program for rural home construction in Cochise County. While program participants must comply with all Cochise County Building Safety Code and zoning requirements, the overall permitting costs associated with construction are lower than traditional residential home construction. This is due to either fewer or no building plan reviews and inspections being conducted, depending on the option selected by the participant. This amendment is intended to encourage the use of ingenuity and personal preferences of the owner-builder in allowing and facilitating the use of alternative building materials and methods. Be advised that this program does not exempt owner-builders from statewide codes such as the plumbing and fire codes and regulations regarding smoke detectors, nor does it exempt owner-builders from fire codes adopted by fire districts or the County.
For more information, please review the following information and frequently asked questions (FAQs):
The purpose of this amendment is to exempt a Rural Residential Owner-Builder from the requirement for construction plan review and inspections under the currently adopted version of the Cochise County Building Safety Code, provided the property is located in a Zoning District with a minimum parcel size of four-acres per dwelling unit and the subject parcel is at least four-acres in size. This option is available for residential construction projects only. This amendment also allows a Rural Residential Owner-Builder to comply with the Cochise County Building Safety Code plan review but limits inspections. Such an Owner-Builder may, of course, also opt for compliance with the Cochise County Building Safety Code accompanied by full plan review and inspections. This amendment is intended to allow the Rural Residential Owner-Builder the option to construct owner-occupied residential structures without County plan and inspection oversight if the property is located in an area defined as “rural”.
By statute, this exemption does not exempt owner-builders from state, county building codes, or fire-district adopted fire codes and regulations regarding smoke detectors, nor does it exempt owner-builders from health regulations regarding wastewater treatment systems.
Areas Zoned: RU, SM, and SR with a required and actual minimum lot size of 4 acres or greater of land. If the parcel is four acres or larger and located in a zoning district with a max density of fewer than 4 acres, the applicant may rezone the property to a zoning district with a max density of four acres or larger.
The provisions of this amendment shall apply to the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, demolition, conversion, occupancy, and maintenance of limited density owner-built residential rural dwellings and accessory structures situated within the designated areas of Cochise County.
This amendment is limited to use by the owner-builder once in every five years for Residential Dwellings on all properties within the unincorporated area of Cochise County owned by that individual. This limitation does not apply to accessory structures or additions on the same property.
For the purpose of this amendment the following definitions shall apply:
For the purposes of this amendment, proof of the sale or rent or the offering for sale or rent of any such structure by the owner-builder within one year after completion or issuance of a certificate of occupancy is prima facie evidence that such project was undertaken for the purpose of sale or rent. As used in this paragraph sale or rent includes any arrangement by which the owner receives compensation in money, provisions, chattels, or labor from the occupancy or transfer of the property or the structures on the property.
The Owner-Builder in selecting to use this amendment is strongly encouraged to take advantage of the best water conservation practices available at the time of construction (Note: county water conservation site development standards may be mandatory in the future). Additionally, if the property is located in the vicinity of a military airport the Owner-Builder is required to provide high noise sound attenuation through the construction materials selected for the project as defined and required by ARS Section 28-8482B.
Full Construction Plan Review with Limited Building Code Inspection: This option when selected by the applicant during the permit issuance process requires (in addition to Zoning and other County Departments inspection requirements) that only Limited Building Code inspections dealing with the trade areas of Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Prevention be completed by County Building Inspectors. Full Construction Plan Review and the required limited Inspections for this option will be completed in accordance with the adopted Cochise County Building Safety Code.
No Construction Plan Review with No Building Code Inspection: This option, when selected by the applicant during the permit issuance process requires (in addition to Zoning and other County Department inspection requirements) that No Building Code inspections be completed by County Building Inspectors. In addition, by selecting this option, No construction plans are required to be submitted or reviewed by the County Planning Department.
Each time a permit is issued pursuant to this amendment for Residential Dwellings, Additions, or Accessory Structures a notice that a permit has been issued pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be recorded with the County Recorder by the Development Services Department.
This amendment does not affect the requirement that prior to construction the Rural Owner-Builder must obtain all permits required under State law and county ordinance.
To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application with the Development Services Department. Permit applications shall contain the following information:
Full construction plan review with limited building code inspection option only. Two copies of Construction Plans (when applicable) for the proposed project shall be submitted to the Planning Department for review and approval. These Construction Plans may be hand-drawn by the applicant and may include a simplified diagram of the floor plan, structure elevations, and construction details in order to determine the appropriate dimensions of structural members.
The Development Services Department shall waive the submission of any plans if the department finds that the nature of the work applied for is such that the reviewing of plans is not necessary to obtain compliance with this amendment.
The Development Services Department shall waive the submission of construction plans when the regulation option of, No Construction Plan Review with No Building Code Inspection, is selected at the time of permit application.
Full construction plan review with limited building code inspection option only. Modifications to the design, materials, and methods of construction are permitted, provided that the structural integrity of the building or structure is maintained, the building continues to conform to the provisions of this regulation, and the Planning Department is notified in writing of the intended modification and approves the modification prior to construction.
Full construction plan review with limited building code inspection option only. All construction or work for which a permit is required will be subject to inspection within the designated scope option of this amendment by the Planning Department. If an inspection is required, such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved.
Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code amendment or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Neither the building official nor the jurisdiction shall be liable for expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material to allow inspection.
At any time during the construction process for the Full Construction Plan Review with Limited Inspections option an applicant may elect to have an additional Building Code inspection completed (work being inspected must be accessible and exposed), in addition to the inspections already required under their selected option, at the adopted per hour inspection fee by a County Building Inspector.
Full construction plan review with limited building code inspection option only. Certain types of construction may require Special Inspections, when applicable, by Arizona Registered Design Professionals as required under Section 1704 of the adopted International Building Code and as determined by the Building Official.
It shall be the duty of the applicant to notify the Development Services Department that the construction is ready for inspection and to provide access to the premises when applicable. Inspections shall be requested by the applicant at least 24 hours in advance of the intended inspection. It shall be the duty of the Development Services Department to notify or inform the applicant of the day during which the inspection is to be conducted.
Full construction plan review with limited building code inspection option only. After the dwelling(s) is completed for occupancy and any inspections which have been required by the Development Services Department have been conducted and work approved, the Development Services Department shall issue a conditioned Certificate of Occupancy for such dwelling(s) and accessory structure(s), which comply with the provisions of this amendment.
Full construction plan review with limited building code inspection option only. The use and occupancy of a portion or portions of a dwelling or accessory structure prior to the completion of the entire structure shall be allowed, provided that approved sanitary facilities are available at the site and that the work completed does not create any condition to an extent that endangers life, health or safety of the public, visitors or occupants of the structure or portion thereof. Prior to any temporary occupancy of the dwelling or accessory structure, a temporary occupancy inspection must be completed and approved by the Development Services Department.
Fees shall be required and collected by the Development Services Department to provide for the cost of administering the provisions of this amendment as adopted by the Board of Supervisors. It is the intent of this amendment that permits processing and inspection fee schedules be established that reflect the actual inspection and administrative costs resulting from the application of the amendment.
Each structure shall be built and maintained in a sound structural condition to be safe, sanitary, and to shelter the occupants from the elements.
Fireplaces, cooling, heating, cooking appliances and gas piping installed in buildings constructed pursuant to this amendment shall be installed and vented in accordance with the requirements contained in the currently adopted Cochise County Building Safety Code (IRC Mechanical Code).
Where electrical wiring or appliances are installed, the installation shall be in accordance with the provisions contained in the currently adopted Cochise County Building Safety Code (Electrical Codes).
Exceptions: No dwelling or accessory structure constructed pursuant to this amendment shall be required to be connected to a source of electrical power, or wired, or otherwise fitted for electrification. In structures where electrical usage is confined to one or more rooms of a structure, the remainder of the structure shall not be required to be wired or otherwise fitted for electrification unless the Development Services Department determines the electrical demands are expected to exceed the confinement and capacity of that room(s). It is the intent of this subsection to apply to buildings in which there exists a workshop, kitchen, or other single room, which may require electrification, and where there is no expectation of further electrical demand.
Full construction plan review with limited building code inspection option only. Plumbing equipment, systems, and installation shall be in accordance with the requirements contained in the Cochise County Building Safety Code and the Cochise County Health Department regulations. Alternative materials and methods shall be permitted provided that the design complies with the intent of the County codes and regulations. Potable water shall be available to the dwelling site.
Residential Smoke Detectors shall be provided in accordance with the requirements contained in the Cochise County Building Safety Code.
Sanitation facilities, including the type, design, and number of facilities, as required and approved by the County Director of Environmental Health, shall be provided to the dwelling site.
The critical concern in the promulgation of this amendment is to provide for health and safety while maintaining respect for the law and voluntary compliance with the provisions of this amendment, and therefore, in the event that an order to correct a substandard condition (based on the level of the option selected) is ignored, it is the intent of this section that the adopted County Hearing Officer Rules of Procedure for violations be followed.
When applicable for a particular issue the adopted appeals process contained in the Cochise County Zoning Regulations or the Cochise County Building Safety Code shall be followed to hear and decide appeals dealing with issues on this amendment. The department shall keep a record of the decisions on appeals.
If a structure(s) on a property has been built or altered under the relief granted by this amendment, this could be considered a factor against a rezoning to a higher density if it would diminish the lot size of the said structure(s) to less than four acres. It is further understood that, in accordance with existing law, any change of use from a residential dwelling to commercial use shall require certification by a registered design professional that the building complies with the currently adopted Cochise County Building Code.
Please contact us if you have any additional questions. You can find an application on our Permit Webpage.